A lot of really amazing things happened on this date. Here are some of the best:

2010

33 Chilean miners who have been trapped underground for more than three weeks speak directly with family members for the first time.

2004

For the first time in 20 years the MTV Video Music Awards moves its location from New York / Los Angeles and takes place in Miami.

2002

According to NASA, The largest balloon ever successfully launched floated to the fringes of the upper atmosphere during this week, loaded with space science equipment to study cosmic rays.

1995

Michael Jackson proves again that he is the King of Pop with another #1 hit with You Are Not Alone.

1991

Soviet Parliament Suspends Activities of Communist Party.

1990

Eve of the collapse of the Soviet Union.

1989

Astronomers reported the discovery of a giant hydrogen cloud that could be an unborn galaxy and that possibly provides evidence that new star systems are still being formed

1988

USSR launches 3 cosmonauts (Valery Polyakav, 1 Afghan) to station Mir

1988

During the European leg of his Bad tour Michael Jackson appeared at Roundhay Park in Leeds, England.

1986

The former “American Bandstand” studio was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The studio is in Philadelphia, PA.

1979

A national referendum is held in which Somali voters approve a new liberal constitution.

1975

Star in Cygnus goes nova becoming 4th brightest in sky.

1968

The Beatles, “Dear Prudence” is recorded.

1965

Gemini 5, carrying astronauts Gordon Cooper and Charles “Pete” Conrad, splashed down in the Atlantic after eight days in space.

1965

US Astronauts Cooper & Conrad complete 120 Earth orbits in Gemini 5

1964

Walt Disney’s “Mary Poppins” released

1963

The world reacts to “I Have a Dream” a 17-minute public speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered on August 28, 1963

1962

Mal Goode becomes the first African American television news commentator in the US when he begins broadcasting on ABC.

1961

The first group of volunteers for the Peace Corps departed Washington for Accra, the capital of Ghana. The afternoon before, the Ghana volunteers, and another group bound for Tanganyika, were hosted by President Kennedy at the White House.

1958

Alan Freed’s “Big Beat Show” opened at the Fox Theatre in Brooklyn, NY.

1958

George Harrison joined the band Quarrymen. John Lennon and Paul McCartney were also members.

1958

The first of Alan Freed’s Big Beat revues is held at Brooklyn, New York’s Fox Theatre, featuring Chuck Berry, Bill Haley and his Comets, Frankie Avalon, The Elegants, Bobby Freeman, and Jimmy Clanton.

…and the absolute best thing that happened on this date was the birth of Michael Jackson on August 29, 1958!